Despite balky back Day has eyes on prize at PGA Tour Championship

MIAMI – Jason Day has been careful in plotting his return from the back injury that forced him out the BMW Championship this month, but that doesn’t mean he’s lowering his sights at this week’s PGA Tour Championship.

The world number one from Australia is one of five players who go into thetournament at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia, with a chance to claim theFedExCup playoff bonus.

Although he could finish as low as tied for third and still have a chanceof capturing the prize, he said he’s treating the week as a must-win.

"It’s either winning or nothing else matters," Day said.

"That’s thementality that I have to go into because, if I finish second, that’s great andall, but it may not win me the trophy.

"So I’ve got to go in with the mentality that I have to win."

Day thinks a victory could also give him a shot at Player of the Yearhonors, an award voted on by Tour members which many believed that US Openchampion Dustin Johnson wrapped up with his victory at the BMW Championship atCrooked Stick.

Both players have won three times this season, with Johnson’s trio oftitles including his breakthrough major triumph at Oakmont.

"If I win four times, win the FedEx Cup... I’m hoping that pushes meover the line if I win," Day said.

"If we both finish tied fifth (at the Tour Championship), he obviouslydeserves it.My biggest thing is I’ve got to win, and if I win, that hopefullypushes me over the edge."

Johnson tops the FedExCup standings, and the race for the $10 million bonusthat goes with the title.

He has won three of his last nine tournaments and has finished in the top10 in his last three Tour Championship starts – tying for 10th in 2012,finishing fifth the following year and closing with a 64 last year to tie forfifth, five shots behind winner Jordan Spieth.

American Patrick Reed is second in the standings and is one of the fiveplayers guaranteed to take home the Cup with a victory this week.

He won thefirst playoff event, the Barclays, tied for fifth in the Deutsche BankChampionship and tied for 13th at Crooked Stick.

Johnson and Reed are paired together today, while Day will playalongside compatriot Adam Scott, who has finished in the top 10 in all threeplayoff events and comes in ranked third in the playoff standings ahead of Dayand England’s Paul Casey.

While the elite 30-man field will offer plenty of formidable competition,Day said his back won’t be a factor.

"The back isn’t an issue right now," said the Aussie, who said he’s back inhis routine for dealing with the annular tear of a disc in his spine, whichrequires keeping up with specialized exercises.

"I wasn’t able to go the gym as much, missed a few massage sessions with myguy," Day said of the trouble that struck in Indiana.

"Muscles turn off, andthen my back goes out. But I learned from it. I’m going to try and get better."AFP